Current Affairs Quiz-September, 2020

Notes:
Union Minster of Petroleum has stated that Five state run oil and natural gas PSUs will become corporate partners of the International Solar Alliance (ISA).
These PSUs would make financials contribution to ISA’s corpus fund. This announcement was made during the 1st World Solar Technology Summit organized by ISA. ONGC, IOCL, BPCL, HPCL and GAIL are the 5 PSUs.

Notes:
India and Japan have recently signed a key agreement for Reciprocal provision of supplies and services between their Defence forces.
Called as the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA), it facilitates smooth provision of supplies and services between Japan’s Self-Defense Forces and India’s armed forces. This agreement is expected to promote military cooperation and regional security.

Notes:
The National Science & Technology Entrepreneurship Development Board (NSTEDB) works under the aegis of Department of Science and Technology (DST), Ministry of Science and Technology.
DST has recently launched a report on the journey of the National Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Development Board (NSTEDB) in catalysing innovation, entrepreneurship, and incubation.

Notes:
Social media major Twitter India has recently launched a dedicated search prompt for resources on mental health and suicide prevention.
This initiative has been launched on the occasion of World Suicide Prevention Day. The search prompt #ThereIsHelp has been launched in association with the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS).

Notes:
Germany has recently carried out the first nationwide test of its civil alarm systems since the end of the Cold War.
The country has also newly created National Warning Day, or Warntag, which is to be observed every year on September 10. Several alarms were sounded to alert the public to create the awareness about the measures to be taken in the backdrop of a national emergency.

Notes:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has recently inaugurated 1.75 lakh houses built under Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana – Gramin in over 12000 villages in Madhya Pradesh.
The Prime Minister also released the ‘Griha Pravesham’ plaque to mark the occasion. The 1.75 lakh houses are a part of the total of 18 lakh houses constructed across the country under the scheme. The work has also been completed in 35 to 40 days, instead of the usual time of 125 days.

Notes:
Meghalaya government has recently launched Piggery Mission with an outlay of Rs 200 Crore. The biggest piggery project aims to reduce the annual import of pork worth Rs 150 Crore.
Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma has launched the project. National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) has partnered with Meghalaya to implement the ‘Meghalaya State Piggery Mission’.

Notes:
A strategic Defence and Security agreement has been recently signed between the Maldives and the United States.
The “Framework for U.S. Department of Defense-Maldives Ministry of Defence and Security Relationship” seeks to promote cooperation maintaining peace and security in the Indian Ocean. India had previously opposed a proposed Status of Forces Agreement between the two countries in 2013.

Notes:
India has voted in favour of a COVID-19 resolution in the U.N. General Assembly (UNGA), along with 168 nations.
The resolution reaffirms international cooperation to respond to COVID. It also acknowledges the WHO’s leadership role during the pandemic. The U.S. and Israel voted against the resolution while Ukraine and Hungary abstained.

Notes:
According to the Asian Development Bank, Asia’s economy will contract for the first time since the early 1960s.
The bank had earlier projected that the GDP would grow by 0.1 per cent. Now, it is estimated that Asia’s GDP would decline by 0.7 per cent in 2020 and would increase to 7.7 per cent in 2021. It also highlighted that the GD in India would contract by 9% this year.